FaptaSyme: a Strategy for Converting a Monomer/Oligomer Non-Selective to Oligomer-Selective Aptameric Sensors

摘要

Aptameric sensors can bind molecular targets and produce output signals; a phenomenon that is used in bioassays. In some cases, it is important to distinguish between monomeric and oligomeric forms of a target. Here we propose a strategy on how to convert a monomer/oligomer non-selective sensor to an oligomer-selective sensor. We designed an aptazyme that produced a high fluorescent output in the presence of oligomeric alpha-synuclein (a molecular marker of Parkinson’s disease), but not with its monomeric form. The strategy is potentially useful in the design of point-of-care tests for diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.